Agenda and draft minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare:

· any personal interests not included on the Register of

Interests

· any prejudicial interests or

· any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that they might have in respect of the business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Communities and Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 25 January 2017.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Communities and Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 25 January 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Tuesday 14 March 2017. Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee. To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast or recorded and that includes any registered public speakers, whohave given their permission. The broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts or, if recorded, this will beuploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting.Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillorsand Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. Thisincludes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting. Anyonewishing to film, record or take photos at any public meetingshould contact the Democracy Officer (contact details are at thefoot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present. It can be viewed at

http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_f

or_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_201

60809.pdf

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme on the following item:

5. Flood Risk in York – the York 5 Year Plan Update

Mr Chamings spoke on the concerns of Fishergate residents in relation to the Flood Plan. He stated that those living down stream of the Foss Barrier felt unprotected and were worried they ran the risk of being missed by the plan.

This report provides details of the 2016/17 forecast outturn position for both finance and performance across services within this scrutiny committee’s remit.

Members considered a report which provided details of the 2016/17 forecast outturn position, for both finance and performance, across services within the scrutiny committee’s remit.

The Finance Manager was in attendance to present the report and answer Member questions.

During discussion Members highlighted information missing in several columns of the Performance Scorecard (Annex A). The Finance Manager clarified that these figures should be considered a snapshot of information, whereby some of the figures were collected quarterly but many would be collected on an annual basis. Members also queried the addition of the ‘target’ column which had not been used at all and it was agreed the Finance Manager would discuss this with Business Intelligence and report back to Members.

Resolved:  That Members note the report.

Reason:     To update the Committee on the latest finance and performance position.

The Environment Agency (EA) is leading on the development of a five year flood plan for York. City of York Council are working closely with the EA on the development of this plan. An update to the plan is given at Annex 1 and a further presentation will be made at the meeting

Members considered a report and presentation from CYC Officers and Environment Agency representatives on the development of a five year flood plan for York.

The Environment Agency Project Director (York 5 Year Plan) was in attendance to deliver the presentation and answer Member questions.

In response to issues raised by the public participant the Project Director stated that Fishergate would certainly be covered by the 5 Year Plan and that property level protection was one of several options being considered.  He also confirmed that the upgraded flood defences for New Walk and Clementhorpe had been prioritised in the work plan for early delivery.’

In terms of timescale, the project was on target for delivery in 2021. Contractors would be on site by 2018 and in the event that works were not complete by 2021 there would still be a contractual commitment to the work. Initial assessments were now complete and outline designs had gone out to tender.

Members’ attention was drawn to the information hub that would be opening inside what was a bike shop on North Street. This would be a work space for Officers which would open during set hours for public access. This would allow the Environment Agency to exhibit plans as they developed and to answer any questions the public may have.

Members expressed concerns regarding consultation with residents and the recording of this information. Following a request from Members that all information be recorded and made publicly available, it was decided that these would be considered via the Executive Member for Environment’s Decision Sessions.

In response to questions regarding the impact of new developments on flood risk the Flood Risk Manager stated that there was far more control of planning and development now than at any point in the last 20 years with the use of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and clarified that flood risk and drainage were always a consideration during the planning process.

The Chair thanked the Project Director for his attendance and praised the ongoing and visible partnership working between the EA and CYC.

Resolved:  That Members note the report.

Reason:     To update the Committee on the development of a five year flood plan for York.

This report provides the committee with their first formal update on the implementation of the recommendations arising from the previously completed Goose Management Scrutiny Review.

Members received their first formal update on the implementation of the recommendations arising from the previously completed Goose Management Scrutiny Review.

The Scrutiny Officer confirmed that other Ward Councillors had declined to support Micklegate Councillors financially, through use of their ward budgets, as they did not consider the issue a priority for their residents. Micklegate Councillors confirmed they would be proceeding with the funding of some of the measures identified through the review, in an effort to address the geese related issues affecting their ward.

Resolved: That;

i.             the implementation update information detailed in Annex A be noted

ii.            a further update be brought to the relevant scrutiny committee in six months time

Reason:     To raise awareness of those recommendations which are still to be fully implemented.

Members are asked to give consideration to the committee’s work plan for 2016/7.

Consideration was given to the committee’s work plan for the municipal year 2016/17.

Resolved:  That the committee’s work plan for 2016/17 be approved subject to the following addition:

·        Quarterly Flood Risk Update (June)  

Reason:     To ensure that the committee has a planned programme of work in place.